Senegal to connect 1M citizens in remote areas

Senegal’s Minister of Communication, Telecommunications and Digital Economy, Alioune Sall, has launched a program to install satellite antennas in several remote areas aimed at connecting 1 million Senegalese citizens to the Internet by the end of 2026.

Sall announced the project on the sidelines of the country’s National Assembly plenary session devoted to examining his department’s draft budget for the 2026 fiscal year. 

“This deployment of satellite antennas will begin before the end of the year, and through new technologies, the state of Senegal must be as close as possible to the people,” Sall explained. 

He said the initiative focuses on regions that remain underserved by traditional networks, particularly fiber optics and 4G. 

Sall added that the initiative will consist of a technological mix that should cover all areas of the country, including the most remote localities. 

“The state of Senegal has set itself the objective of connecting 1 million Senegalese people free of charge, with priority given to border areas, health posts, isolated administrative buildings as well as schools requiring special support,” he added. 

Sall also announced the introduction of a digital version of the citizen criminal record.

Senegal bridging the digital divide

Related:Senegal discusses regulatory cooperation with ITU

The satellite antenna initiative comes amid accelerated digital transformation in the country, as the government seeks to expand information and communication technology (ICT) in Senegal.

In recent years, the country has made significant strides in connecting underserved communities through innovative initiatives and partnerships with diverse stakeholders.

In September 2025, the Senegalese Telecommunications and Postal Regulatory Authority’s (ARTP’s) director general, Dahirou Thiam, met with the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU’s) secretary, General Doreen Bogdan-Martin, to advance regulatory frameworks in Senegal.

That meeting saw several themes being discussed, including ways to strengthen cooperation between Senegal and the ITU.

In January 2025, PAIX Data Centres announced the construction of a new data center in Dakar, Senegal, with the first phase of the project scheduled to be operational in 2026.

The satellite antenna initiative follows the country signing a financing deal with the UK’s development finance institution, British International Investment (BII), to support Senegal’s telecommunication infrastructure plans, back in May 2024.

The country’s plans to advance its ICT ecosystem also saw it launch its first satellite, GAINDESAT in October 2023.

In August 2023, the country’s roaming arrangements with mobile network operators were implemented, allowing subscribers to use a competitor’s network to make and receive calls and text messages and access the Internet.

According to DataReportal statistics from October 2025, the country had 22.3 million mobile phone subscribers, representing a penetration rate of 122%, while the Internet base stood at 11.5 million, with a penetration rate of 60.6%.